*Authors note. Hello! This is my first fic. Written to give me some closure on the ending (I guess technically there were multiple ones.) of Mass Effect 3. I am still toying with the idea that since all the best scientists and a bunch of dead reapers are all in the Sol system that we could repair the relays... please give me your thoughts on this. I don't want it to be too wild.*
The doctors continued their work on the unconscious war hero. They had found him in the rubble near death, the implants in his body destroyed. It was miraculous that he was still alive, still breathing. Still had a heartbeat. The machines beeped with new readings on his vitals and anatomical information. The man's eyes flickered open. He gazed at the rubble seen through the hospital window, at the soldiers celebrating while the more astute were looking worried, gazing into the sky. His eyes rolled back into his head as he passed out again.
The Citadel
Shepard looked at this boy, this catalyst. He doubted the judgement that synthetics would eventually destroy organics, with his thoughts resting on how he had made peace between the quarians and the geth, and how EDI was a faithful crew mate just like any of the organics with him. The catalyst had mentioned that the relays would be destroyed, no matter what he chose to do. He considered merging organics with synthetics, but he doubted that would bring any peace. Humans had fought wars with humans, turians with turians, salarians with salarians. Why, even the geth had fought each other with the heretics and geth destroying or re-writing one another. Diversity was what made this cycle great. The protheans didn't have it, and they fell. If Shepard erased diversity, it wouldn't answer anything. He turned towards the boy.
"What happens if I destroy the reapers?" He asked.
"If you choose to destroy them, all synthetic life will be destroyed and the relays will no longer function." All synthetic life will be destroyed. Shepard was having a hard time mulling over this thought, and he knew he was running out of time. Soon, his fleet would be destroyed if he didn't face this ultimatum. He approached the tube that was controlling the reapers, pistol ready. He loved EDI and the geth, but, unfortunately for them, Shepard would always see organic life as a higher priority than AI. His friends that had helped him to this point flashed in his mind as he pulled the trigger. He pulled it again, and again, and again, pulling harder each time with anger over what this war had brought. That stupid boy. He thought, the catalyst was using circular logic and forcing Shepard into something that would ruin the galaxy, but also free it.
Citadel Ruins
Shepard hobbled through the ruins of the presidium. He couldn't feel any part of his body, but through his hazy vision he could see the dark trail of blood he was leaving. He continued limping on, growing weaker by the second. He sat down underneath an balcony that overlooked the council's stage. The second he passed out was the second that the balcony crumbled above him.
*It's a little short, I know, but I plan to go 3 or 4 chapter or just whenever I feel that it is completed. Yes, I got the Shepard Breath ending, so I wanted to clear up a bit how he got in that mess. If you liked it, please review. I am open to constructive criticism, in fact I would very much appreciate it as I plan to write more in the future. Also, as I stated before I would like to know if it seems like to much to have the relays repaired. Thanks for reading!*